Automobile block



June 20, 1933- U E 1314 743 AUTOMOBILE BLOCK Filed Oct. 8, 1951 INVENTORZea B Patented June 26, 1933 S PATEL sis L ED P. HUGHES, OF LAKEWOOD,OHIO, ASSIGNGR '10 THE REEVES MANUFACTURING COM'PAIQY, F DOVER, GHIO, ACORPORATION OF CHIC AUTOMOBILE BLOCK Application filed October S, 1931.

'My invention relates to blocks for inter positioning between the wheelsof automobiles and similar vehicles and a floor, more particularly thefloor of a railway car, for

preventing movement of the vehicle with respect to the floor.

More particularly my invention relates to a one-piece .metal block, andincludes improvements of the automobile block set forth 0 in, my priorU. S. Letters Patent No. 1,556,-

327, issued October 6, 1925, wherein is set forth a two-piece blockincluding a body portion having one end formed as a base adapted forbeing secured to the floor of a railway car, or the like, and a wheelseat member secured to the other end of the body portion, the axis ofthe body portion being inclined with respect to its base so as toconstitute a line substantially radial with respect to the wheel beingengaged by the seat.

It has been found that sheet metal blocks made of two or more piecesfrequently collapse in use by buckling-or bending, because the seatmembers do not supply transverse strength to the blocks for resistingshock loads applied to the blocks substai'itially parallel to the basesthereof, when railroad cars equipped with the same are being shunted inrailroad yards. However, I have discovered that a block provided with anaxis incliningwith respect to its base so as to lie in a lineapproximately radial to a Wheel in engagement with the seat thereof, andmade from a single sheet of metal, has great strength for resisting bothtransversely and axially applied loads.

One of the objects of the present improve ments therefore includes theprovision of an improved one-piece metal block having the generalcharacteristics of the block set forth in my aforesaid prior patent, andincluding an integral body portion having a base formed at one end and aseat formed directly F at the other end thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a one-pieceblock having an axis inclined with respect to its base, lying in a lineapproximately radial to a wheel in engagement with the seat thereof.

0 A further object of the present invention is Serial No. 567,644.

to provide a block structure enabling the manufacture of a sheet metalblock including a tube like body portion having an angular base formedat one end thereof and a curved trough-like seat formed at the other endthereof, directly from one piece of sheet metal.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the blocks, apparatus,parts improvements, and combinations, which comprise the presentinvention, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and setforth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

In general terms the present improved automobile block includes a bodyportion, which is preferably tubular or tube-lil-ie and may be eithercylindric, slightly tapered for nesting purposes, or frusiirconical witha more pro nounced slope of the wall thereof with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the body, and the body portion is preferablyprovided with a base flange at one end, and a trough-like seat at theother end, the wall of the trough-like seat preferably including one ormore folds, and the block being formed of one piece of sheet or stripmetal.

Preferred embodiments of the present improvements are illustrated in theaccompanying drawing forming part hereof,-in which Figure 1 is afragmentary side elevation illustra ting'two of the improved blocks inuse in connection with a wheel of an automobile;

Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical sectional View of one of the blocks, as online 22, Fig. 3;

i Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view thereof as on line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. i, a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a second embodiment of theimproved block; and

Fig. 5, a view similar to Figs. l and 2 illustrating a third embodimentof the improved block.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, one embodiment of the improved blocks is indicatedgenerally by 10, and the block 10 is formed as by drawing and pressingfrom a single piece of sheet or strip metal, preferably steel.

The block 10 includes a frusto-conical, tubular body portion 11 on thelower end of which is formed an outwardly extending peripheral flange12, and the flange 12 has suitable apertures 13 formed therein, wherebythe flange may be secured to the car floor or the like, as by nails orscrews 14.

The upper end of the body portion 11 is closed and has formed therein acurved trough-like seat 15 for receiving the tire 16 of the automobilewheel 17 being supported by the block 10.

The outer surfaces of the seat 15 preferably substantially conform tothe contour of the tire 16.

The seat 15 has one or more folds 15a formed therein to take up thefullness or ex cess of metal resulting in providing a block, formed froma single sheet of metal, with a curved trough-like seat at one end ofthe tubular body thereof. The fold 15a is formed in such a way that themetal in the seat is overlapped. Moreover, the fold 15a increases thestrengthening action of the integrally formed seat for resistingtransverse shock loads to which the block is subjected in use.

The body portion 11 of the block 10 as aforesaid is frusto-conical andhas a relatively pronounced slope wit-h respect to its longitudinal axis20, which preferably passes through the axis 21 of the Wheel 17 in use.

The second embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by 110, inFig. 4, is generally similar to the block 10, with the exception that inthe block 110, the body porton 111 is only slightly tapered foreconomizing in material and at the same time permitting nesting of theblocks 110.

In Fig. 5, a third embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by210, and is generally similar to the blocks 10, and 110, with theexceptionthat inthe block 210, the body portion 211 is a cylindric tube.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 4c and 5, the seats115 and 215, respectively have one or more folds 115a and 215a,respectively formed therein for taking up excess metal and forstrengthening the blocks. However, these folds are shown as extendingcrosswise of the seats 115 or 215 rather than longitudinally thereof asin Figs. 2 and 3.

Each of the foregoing embodiments of the improved block may be rapidlyand economically manufactured from a single piece of sheet or stripmetal, and the formation of each block with a tube-like body portionhaving a radial axis and a seat at its upper end having one or morefolds, provides lateral stiffness, strength, and rigidity for the block,and the tubular body portion acts as a strut or column between the walland the floor.

I claim:

1. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrallyformed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a tube-likebody portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a seat at theother end of the body portion, and the metal in the seat being foldedand overlapped.

2. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrallyformed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a taperedtubular body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a seatat the other end of the body portion, and the metal in the seat beingfolded and overlapped.

3. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrallyformed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including afrusto-conical tubular body portion, a base at one end of the bodyportion, and a seat at the other end of the body portion, and the metalin the seat being folded and overlapped.

4. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrallyformed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a tube-likebody portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a trough shapedseat at the other end of the body portion, and the metal in the seatbeing folded and overlapped.

A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrallyformed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a taperedtubular body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and atrough shaped seat at the other end of the body portion, and

themetal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

6. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrallyformed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including afrusto-conical tubular body portion, a base at one end of the bodyportion, and a trough shaped seat at the other end of the body portion,and the metal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEO P. HUGHES.

